Ever since the coup had happened, Ratja had been going out of her way to avoid King Mausinger wherever possible. Mrs Potts, the new Housekeeper had been helping her in this endeavour wherever she could, and to his credit, King Mausinger himself had been giving her space as well. But now, slowly, the desire to avoid him was being replaced with the desire to talk to him again. To ask him, why he had thrown away the peace that he and King Leonhard had worked so long and hard to achieve? But whenever she would work up the nerve, Vermine was always there and whatever courage she had manage to gather would crumble away. In the end, she would always mumble her excuses and leave.

Now word was spreading through a castle of a celebration. A celebration. The thought made her sick to her stomach and when she had first heard the news, she had had to duck into one of the storage rooms until the urge to cry had passed. So many of her friends had been locked away, had fled Dell for gods knew where, or had taken Mausinger's side in the coup. And Aranella, dear Aranella was gone. And the ones who were left, they would be attending because they too afraid not too.

But Ratja had a choice. And she honestly couldn't decide if she would go or if she wouldn't. How could she celebrate after everything that had happened? After all that was lost? But on the other hand, this could be finally her chance to speak with Mausinger one to one.

She was emerging from the Servant's Station when someone called out to her. "Rodellia! There you are."

She blinked. That was Chancellor Vermine. What was he doing here? "Chancellor Vermine," she said politely as she inclined her head. The proper formality was to curtsey but she could get away with just that.

He raised an eyebrow at her, the gesture not being lost on him. "Hmph. I have been looking for you everywhere, Rodellia. You are certainly not easy to find."

"Can I help you with something, Chancellor?"

"Here," he replied simply holding out a letter. "It is an invitation to the celebration. His Majesty wishes that you attend."

"Oh. I see." She took the invitation. It had her name on the front, written in Mausinger's own handwriting. "Am I being ordered to attend, Chancellor?"

"If you were, Rodellia, I would hardly be handing you an invitation now would I?"

"So it's my choice, then."

"Yes, yes. Attend. Do not. I do not care." He left. Ratja took the invitation with her back to her room and sat on her bed. She wished Cally was still here so could talk it over with someone. Unfortunately as a grimalkin, she had been hauled off to the dungeons for refusing to submit to Mausinger's rule, not that Ratja could blame her. She opened the letter and began to read.

'Dearest, Ratja.' She felt a pang in her chest at those words.

'It has not escaped my notice that you have been avoiding me ever since the coup happened. I cannot say that I do not understand your reasons, you were fond of King Leonhard and Prince Evan as I once was. Still I have been entertaining the hope that you will attend the upcoming celebration with me. I have missed your company, Ratja, and I long to see you again. Though should you desire not to, I will of course understand and respect your decision.

Yours hopefully, King Mausinger.'

Ratja shut her eyes at the wave of emotion that overtook her. She missed him too, or more precisely, the Mausinger she had come to love. Maybe there was still a chance she could see that man again? It was decided then, she would attend the party after all.

Ratja picked out her best dress for the occasion and hoped it would do. As a maid she didn't exactly have anything that would pass as ballroom wear as most of the time she would've been expected to serve at the ball not attend it. Although this was the first celebration being held by the new government so she couldn't say if they would find her attire objectionable or not. As she approached the ballroom, her anxiety grew. She was a little on the late side so she wasn't surprised to hear the murmur of conversation drifting up the hallway. She spotted Mrs Potts, hesitating in the doorway ahead. "Hello, Ti-Mrs Potts."

"Tina, please. I couldn't bear it if you started getting all formal on me."

"Sorry, Tina."

Tina squeezed her hand. "How are you holding up, Ratja? I'd imagine attending this party must be difficult for you too."

Ratja tried to swallow the sudden lump that had lodged herself in her throat. "… King Mausinger invited me. I was hoping…"

"Hoping you would get to ask him about what happened?" Ratja nodded. "Good luck with that." She looked into the ballroom. "Shall we then?" Ratja nodded again and they both stepped in. She had never seen the place packed with so many mousekind. All of Mausinger's advisors were there, or at least so she assumed. She had yet to become familiar with all of their faces. And the soldiers were as well of course, dressed in their civilian attire. There were some humanfolk there too, the Cook, the Steward, other maids whom Tina went to join. It was so strange to see the place almost completely devoid of grimalkin. There were a few in attendance; Soldiers who had agreed to submit in order to share in their fellows' fate, however well that was going for them. They were noticeably subdued, a far cry from their previous selves and Ratja's heart went out to them.

"Pardon me, Miss Rodellia."

Ratja turned to see one of the new mousekind ministers smiling at her politely. "Oh! Minister Chevington. My apologies, I didn't realise I was holding up the door."

His smile only grew in strength. "That is quite all right, Miss Rodellia. It is quite a sight is it not? I cannot say I have ever seen so many of our kind present for a celebration being held in the castle, can you?"

"No… I suppose not."

"King Mausinger's coup has been a most auspicious occasion for mousekind, would you not agree?"

"… I suppose it has."

"I was saddened to hear that you had declined the role of Housekeeper, Miss Rodellia. I am sure you would have performed in the role very well."

"That is very kind of you say, but I felt that Tina was the better choice. She is more experienced than I am."

"I see. I suppose that is fair." He looked away, distracted by something. "Well, it has been a pleasure talking to you, Miss Rodellia. Have a pleasant evening."

"Thank you, Minister Chevington, and you." Minister Chevington headed into the ballroom to join his friends and Ratja idly wandered around wondering what to do with herself. It was not as if there was no-one she knew well in the room but ever since the coup, her friendships with them had changed. She was not truly alone but sometimes she felt it.

She had been subconsciously circling the ballroom and now found herself at the buffet table. No one had begun eating yet but they had been helping themselves to drinks and realising that she was already thirsty, set a course for the bowls of punch. To her surprise someone was already there. And that someone was Vermine. She looked around for King Mausinger but could not see him, the movement drawing Vermine's attention. He looked briefly surprised at her sudden appearance. "Rodellia," he said simply. "I see you have attended after all."

"Yes… I have," she replied not knowing what else to say. In the awkward silence that stretched between them, Ratja took notice of his outfit. He had dressed for the occasion in colours much deeper than his usual attire. And because it, for the first time Ratja realised that he seemed to look quite ill. She could've sworn that his fur used be brighter and richer. And how long had he had those bags under his eyes? Was it from stress? "I think you need this more than I do," he said pulling her out of her musings. She looked down. He was holding out the punch he had just poured for himself.

"Oh. Thank you." She took the punch and took a sip as he turned back to pour another for himself. "Is, um… Is King Mausinger… is he delayed?"

"I suppose he must be if he has not yet arrived."

"I just… thought that you might know."

"Must I know everything?"

She blinked twice. "I… I suppose not."

Conversation died away heralding the arrival King Mausinger. He was too short to be seen over the crowd but she could still hear him. "Greetings everyone."

"Greetings, Your Majesty," the crowd replied and bowed or curtsied in unison. Next to her Vermine suddenly downed the entire glass of punch, drew another and downed that too. She couldn't help but stare at him in wide eyed bewilderment but all he gave her in return was a sideways glance as he poured two more glasses and then disappeared into the crowd with them.

"I would like to begin by welcoming you all to this celebration," Mausinger continued. "Ever since the coup, our people have been a thriving in a way we have never done before. In a way we have never been allowed to do before. And it is through our actions that we have achieved this reality. I may now be king of our fair nation, but it would not have been possible if not for your support. And this is what I have gathered you all here to celebrate." There was a brief pause before he continued. "To a new Ding Dong Dell!"

"To a new Ding Dong Dell!" The crowd echoed enthusiastically.

"To King Mausinger!" Vermine declared.

"To King Mausinger!" They cheered in return.

It was now Ratja's turn to down an entire glass of punch and she considered downing the next one too as she drew it over the rumble of footsteps as they formed an orderly queue to the buffet table. "Ratja?" She nearly choked on her punch because she knew that voice.

And sure enough, Mausinger was walking towards her with Vermine in tow. He smiled hopefully. "Ratja. I went looking for you but could not find you. I had not realised that you had gone on ahead of me."

"Apologies, Your Majesty. I didn't mean cause you any trouble."

"No trouble, Ratja, I am just glad you are here."

"Of course. You did invite me after all."

His smile waned a little at that. "I hope you were not made to feel as though you were obligated."

"No, Your Majesty. I-I wanted to come."

"Excellent. Then will you be joining us for dinner?"

"Us?" She repeated as her plans for the evening came crashing down around her.

"Of course," Vermine replied with a barely disguised smirk. "You didn't think it was going to be just you and His Majesty all evening did you?"

"No of course not." She hadn't thought that. But she had at least thought she would've had him all to herself for dinner. She lined up with them as they joined the end of the queue and tuned them out as they conversed about something while the line moved along. And then after they had selected their food, she followed them reluctantly to their assigned dinner table but when they sat down she hesitated. Mausinger smiled at her. "Sit, Ratja. Join us." So she did. And as they tucked in, she picked at her food. "So tell me, Ratja. How have you… How have you been adjusting to the changes? Things have been going well I hope?"

Ratja glanced at Vermine who was watching her intently. "… Fine… I suppose. So many of us are gone now that for those of us left we've had to spread ourselves out as best we can. I usually work all through the day now and well into the evening. But, um, the ministers… they've been… they've been very understanding at least."

Mausinger had the grace to look slightly guilty. "This will all settle down in time, Ratja. And you will not have to continue to spread yourselves so thin when I begin bringing more workers into the castle to replace those we lost." Ratja simply nodded and an awkward silence ensured. Then Mausinger turned to Vermine. "And what about you, Vermine? How are you adjusting? I would imagine that you are finding the role of chancellor to be very different from the days when you were my assistant?"

"Yes…" He agreed with a smile that looked more like a wince. "Just as Rodellia has said, I often find myself working well into the evening as well. And subsequently I have found myself turning to tea as you did."

"Heh. I cannot say that I am surprised to hear that. You should consider taking on your own assistant, Vermine. Unlike when I first started there is no shortage of mousekind candidates to choose from now."

"I am certainly considering it."

"Did you have anyone in particular in mind?"

"Not at the moment, I am considering considering an assistant."

"Ah. I see."

There was a brief pause that made Ratja think another awkward silence was going to unfold, but then Vermine turned to her and gave her a smile that made her want to crawl into the nearest bath. "So tell me, Rodellia. What do you think of life after the coup?" Ratja froze as did Mausinger. "Would you say it's better for us now? Or worse?"

"Vermine…"

"What?" He replied. "I was simply curious." He turned back to Ratja. "You may decline to answer if you so choose."

"Or you are free to kick him under the table if you feel so inclined."

"Your Majesty-OW! Rodellia!"

"That felt good," she said.

Mausinger chuckled as Vermine glared at her as he rubbed his leg. "I would take care with your words from now on, Vermine." Vermine humphed in reply.

Ratja felt herself unwind a little after that. And to his credit, Vermine behaved himself for the rest of the evening. Then came the time to dance. Mausinger stood and held out a hand to her. "Ratja? May I… may I have this dance?"

There was a time when she would've accepted without hesitation. But she held back, long enough for his smile to dip and for him to consider that she might actually refuse. Until she realised that perhaps this was the opportunity she had been waiting for. "Yes… Your Majesty." She took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor where they began to dance. Ratja had him where she wanted only now she didn't know what to say. "Your Majesty…" She ventured. "We need to talk."

"I know you have questions, Ratja. And I will answer them. But can they not wait?"

"Till when?"

"You are free to talk to me anytime, Ratja-"

"Whenever I've wanted to talk to you in the past, he's always been there."

"He?" He repeated. "You mean… Vermine?"

"Yes. Him."

An amused smile. "Are you afraid-"

"I'm not afraid of him, Your Majesty. I just… I just can't talk while he's there."

Mausinger didn't answer immediately. "Come to my study tomorrow evening then. I will… I will tell you everything you wish to know. Is this… satisfactory?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Very good. Now. Shall we enjoy the rest of evening?"

"Yes." She managed to smile for the first time in what felt like a very long time. "Your Majesty." And he returned her smile, relieved.

A/N: This ended up turning out very different to how I had originally planned it. As such this line ended up being lost.

"Ratja's mind vacillated between the desire to twist his ears until he squealed, and choke him with his jabot."